Mud Bath for Butterflies
Did you know that butterflies can’t get all the minerals and salt they need from drinking flower nectar?
They visit muddy areas and find the salt and mineral in the mud and water. I recently learned this, and using an old saucer put garden dirt and water in the saucer, added a sprinkle of table salt and a bit of garden manure to create a spa for butterflies.
You can buy a large shallow plastic or glazed ceramic saucer at any plant store for a dollar or two, add the key ingredients and butterflies will be attracted. I put my mud bath on a table in the sun where pets won’t bother the butterflies.
For flowers to plant for butterflies my March column “Flowers for Butterflies” can be read at www.positivelyfeminine.org
4 comments:
Great information. I love my butterfly garden.
Do you have a problem with wasps or yellow jackets and the mud bath? I think I'd like to try this. Of course I have to wait for the snow to melt and the sun to come out again around here. ;-)
Hi Friends,
Karen, I don't have a problem with wasps or yellow jackets at the mud bath.
I keep other water containers out (in a bird bath, and water for my cats) and haven't had any problems. If I see an occasional bee or wasp drowning I do rescue it :)
Maybe the mud bath will attract dragonflies one day.
What a gorgeous butterfly! Nice twist to my old method of mud puddling. I like the idea of getting it up on a table... Deb
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